PV & Global Warming [RE-wrenches]

[douglas bath]

The need to pursue renewable energy options, second only to total reductions
in energy consumption, is partially illustrated by the fact that burning (or
for that matter,  oxidizing, like in a fuel cell) one gallon of petrol
results in the creation of almost 20 pounds of carbon dioxide. The math is
pretty simple to illustrate our personal responsibility for several tons of
CO2 per year. There will be an end to the petroleum age, and our children
will see it. Just because our current economy doesn't place much value on
energy (gasoline as cheap as it ever was, electricity at $.10/kw-hr or less?
Give me a break), doesn't mean we can't value it more highly. A
kilowatt-hour is 2,655,000 foot-pounds. Would you carry 100 pounds to the
top of Mt. Everest for a dime?  Energy too cheap to meter? IT ALREADY IS!
The effect of solar utility intertie is a statement of defiance to the
status quo, saying, "I don't believe in your funky economics, I believe in
me.....me and Yoko."  
 
With sincere revolutionary fervor,
Douglas B. Bath, 
Senior Technical Advisor 
Gaiam- Real Goods & Jade Mountain 
800-919-2400 x6903 voice 
303-222-8700 fax 
http://www.realgoods.com <http://www.realgoods.com/>  
Building a Sustainable World Since 1978 

"Don't forget to plant your trees."

-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Harlan [mailto:mendosol at mcn.org]
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 8:02 AM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: Re: PV & Global Warming [RE-wrenches]


Anybody got any reasonably researched figures on the effect of inter-tie
photovoltaics upon global warming?  The only information I have been able to
come up with is:
 
   36-38% of global warming gases are from electrical production.
   Annual avoided emissions from one KW of PV:
       1.86 tons carbon dioxide
       12 lbs sulfur dioxide
       11.6 lbs nitrous oxide
 
These are from some older Real Goods publications and I  am not sure how up
to date or acurrate they are. I believe they are for a nation-wide energy
mix. I assume that the environmental benefits begin after the embodied
energy of the PV system has been paid back which I am guessing to be after
seven years.
 
Anybody got any credible information on this?  I find that my customers are
often interested in the environmental impacts of their decision to go solar.
  
 
Rob Harlan
Mendocino Solar Service
mendosol at mcn.org 
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